Cafe Cruise – Sunday 27th January.        

 

Ian Payne – CBR919RR (leader)                           Martin Hastie and Carmen – Super Blackbird                       

Ken Wright and Louise – Aprilia RSV1000          Michael Lanyon – GSX750F (1st ride)

                                                                                                                                                                         

This ride has traditionally been led by Dave Ward, but this year Dave and Bron had wanted to head up to Walwa for the long weekend. As I had planned to stay at home and try to finish my long-term pergola project the thought of a cruisey type of ride would suit me down to the ground. Also it would give my hands a rest from hammering the 2800 nails into the 580 metres of decking!

 

On a fine Sunday morning I headed down to Cavalli’s Café in St. Kilda but what should have been a relatively easy ride became bogged down by a series of detours due to a national Triathalon. The triathalon would also disrupt my proposed route to the West Gate!

 

When I arrived, there were already 5 people at Cavalli’s. As it turned out, this would be the extent of the group. We settled into leisure mode and over a few coffees I planned the revised route to Williamstown. We also got to know our visitor Michael. He was a bit concerned about his bike as it lately refused to idle! This was quite evident when we did get going. What made it worse was even when warm, it still played up!

 

I think Michael also got a bit of a fright when the conversation turned to motorcycling injuries! With Martin and his foot, my altercation with a car and Ken’s Licola incident, I don’t think he knew what he had struck! We also learnt that it was Louise and Carmen’s first time as pillions over the West Gate Bridge. In fact Martin had not been able to persuade Carmen to attempt the ride so they had been riding to Williamstown via Flemington on previous occasions. This fear stemmed from one of Carmen’s work colleges nearly being blown off the West Gate while riding in stormy weather. But today she would attempt it!

 

I had finally devised a route to avoid the triathalon, so we set out. All was going well until Port Melbourne where I took Pickles Street by mistake. No problem. We soon encountered Williamstown Road, then along to Todd Road and the West Gate Freeway. Then a short ride to Williamstown and La Porchetta’s for lunch.

 

Over a very relaxed lunch, so relaxed in fact there was no time left to go elsewhere, we learnt “that Carmen had conquered the Bridge”. So, after a very hearty meal, we did a short sightseeing ride to check out the Titanic restaurant (most impressive but more spectacular at night I’m told!). Then back over the West Gate Bridge where everybody went there own way.

 

Thanks to all who came.

 

Ian Payne (Honda CBR919RR)

 

 

 

Mess Kara - eye makeup                                             McKennock - person who fixes cars

Mere – Mayor                                                              Leather - foam produced from soap

Lift – departed                                                              Kiri Pecker - famous Australian businessman

Kittle crusps - potato chips                                           Ken's - Cairns

Jumbo - pet name for someone called Jim                     Jungle Bills - Christmas carol

Inner me – enemy                                                         Guess - vapour

Fush - marine creatures                                     Fitter cheney - type of pasta

Ever cardeau – avocado                                               Fear hear - blonde

Ear - mix of nitrogen and oxygen                                   Ear roebucks - exercise at the gym

Duffy cult - not easy                                                      Amejen - visualise